The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-28

lduRuluB bOIllN anu tOOs Il
shan't do any German, SO you may as
well sit down and gossip with me- in
stead.n
"But"-- begins Nadine feebly. She
is plainly delighted at the chance OF
scamping the German.
1--WE told auntie I'm going to look at
book to-day, 80 you may rest yourself
in that chair with quiet soul
wouldn't be as conscientious as you, Ma
dine, for q kings ransom. Not that that
would be much nowadays, with all these
Nihilistic doctrines gaining ground as
they do. Are you comfortable in that
overgrown chairi You look trifie lost. "
81 am quite happy" says Nadine, with
a sigh of content
She is feeling tagged and nervous, and
is glad to rest In Millicent's pretty room
with no chance Of being allowed to move
for an hour at least. "Lucky your
says Miss Grey, dropping down upon the
hearth rug and taking her knees into her
embrace. 1t is only April yet, and very
chilly. ''I'm not. Oh, yes; ! know
You needn't finish what is on the tip Of
your tongue. / have everything the heart
of girl can desire-the best of aunts,
plenty of money, season before me Ia
first one, too), lover, and pretty much.
my own way--and still am not happy
l say, isn't 1t a shame keeping me at my
lessons when in another month shall be
eighteen, and presented, and all the rest
Of itf'
"Well, certainly think they might as
well have let you off the month"
"It's downright mean of auntie-and
as n rule she isn't that, eh?'
81 think she is the kindest woman |
ever met" says Nadine, with sudden
fervor.
Her English is exceedingly pure, but
there is just suspicion of foreign ac-
cent in her tone when she grows in any
way excited.
''She is-there isn't doubt of IT," de-
clares Miss Grey, who likes to hear her
auntio praised. "But, like the rest of
us, she has her little weaknesses. Well,
never mind. dare say there are more
objectionable things in the world than
NJ. Liere and Professor Vrcdenburg.
Nadine-say-that's a sweet little frock
you have on. Where did you get its'
81 made it. You really like ity' She
stoops forward, and her lovely face grows
pink with pleased surprise. ~ confess
/ thought it-well-not bad, myself-but
to hear you praise itn'
sit is the incest thing / have seen this
many IL day. l congratulate You on it,
Next month, as l have told you, shall
be an emancipated being-free of even
monsieur and the professor-wth per-
mission to order my own gowns; and then
/ shall b y myself the exact fac-simile
of the one in which you are now looking
so fetching. 1t will be sort of satisfac-
tion to you to see how exceedingly badly
it will become me-"
"Ah! probably shan't see," says Ma
dine
Quick tears rise in her eyes. 1t is not
only that the loss of her engagement will
be a serious lessening of the grist she
brings to the mill, but she is fond of Mil
lcent; and to lose her-the pretty, saucy,
kindly friend-that seems very bitter.
won't you, thought What do you
mean by that, pray?'
why, that I shall disappear with
monsieur and the professor when you
step upon the worlds stage"
Miss Grey, bringing herself nimbly to
her feet, drags Nadine from her chair,
and compels her to stand in front of her.
''Now that have brought matters to
the correct point-now for the stage
effect" she says airily. "You see, we
are both very STACEY in our sentiments
to-day. Now, listen to my arrangement,
and be warned in time that If you object
to it murder will be done-here, in this
very quiet room in Park lane. Auntie
is Of opinion that l am unfit to go about
without keeper, and you are to be ap-
pointed such. Seer According to auntie,
you are very model Of propriety, and I
am exactly the reverse. You are to take
me in hand, and make me altogether
such one as thyself,"
ooh, Millicent!--impossible l could
not do that"
"And why them What tonel what
voicel Is it possible you are going to
say NO. to my proposals Have you for
gotten that the consequences of such folly
on your part will mean deathS My dear
Nadine, really, though, what is it that
you object top
81 shouldn't do at all as YOUR compan-
ion"--
"Why not, you ridiculous mouse'
Well, there!-let us say no more about it
just low. I never think myself, but l
am always sure it is an excellent thing
for other people to do when little per-
picked. However, before you begin to
think, tell me one reason for refusing to
be my guide and mentor"
quick flash rising to Nadine's brow
dyes her face crimson.
you are going to be marriedS'' says
Millicent quickly, noting the signal of
distress.
ut is true-yes."
"And you never told mer' There is a
strong reproach in her tone. Then-see-
ing the pallor on the face before her (the
strange, sorrowful whitening of the beau
tiful face, that has chased from it the
unwilling roses of moment since-and
as she marks the mournful dropping of
the lips, and the look of terrible depres-
sion, nay, fear, that betrays itself in the
shrinking form-pity overcomes her
sense of i'll usage, and some sharp inner
sense conveys to her the truth of it all
"You are afraid of something! You do
not love himN' she cries impulsively,
slipping down on the ground beside the
lounge on which her friend has sunk as
though unnerved and exhausted. Come,
you shall tell it all to me now, am de-
termined-late in the day as it is for your
confidence Is he old, ugly--a veritable
Bluebeard, with Golfers lined with gold;
and are your people compelling you to
marry him for the Ike of his money2'
Her tone is half playful, half serious
wholly winning.
Nadine gives up to it.
''No. 1t is not that" she says. "My
mother would be the last TO urge me to
such marriage. And-and-he is not
old, or ugly, or overburdened with
wealth"
"Am i to think, then, that he is
young, and handsome, and poor, and that
| you are still blind to his sttractions'r
"That is it," returns Nadine family.
"I-when he is with me, talking to me,
looking so kindly at me (he is very kind)
i tell myself that / do love himl But
when he is away from Ahp' with a
quick shudder, ~ know then that my
thought is vain"
Romance is deadW declares Miss
Grey. Handsome as an Apollo, and
poor, and yet you cannot be touched with
the eternal fire. Fie upon you, then, you
degenerate girll After alln--with a sud
den change of tone from the meio-
dramatic into the distinctly common
place-'you are just like me. My young
man (phrase borrowed from Mary Jane,
you will perceiye) is quite all you have
described yours to be-barring the pow
erty-and yet like him quite as little as
| you do yours
"My dear Millicentl And I ALWAYS
understood that
| ut was TO be a true love matchi A
very ideal marriagel A veritable cooling
| AFFAIR." Disabuse your mind of that at
once, my good girl. 1t is a match loved,
| indeed, by my aunt and my other aunt;
| but by nobody else, 30 far as / can see.
He is to have me and auntie's money;
am to have him and his mammy g money.
| That's the arrangement, Fancy being
hung upon season with such stone